In many cases, the end of the year gives you time to step back and take stock of the last 12 months. This is when many of us take a hard look at what worked and what did not, complete performance reviews, and formulate plans for the coming year. For me, it is all of those things plus a time when I u...

Couples are 2.5 times more likely to break up in February than any other month - are bad Valentine's gifts to blame?

Coming up with an exciting Valentine's gift can be challenging as most people have just exhausted their best creative ideas on their partner's Christmas present. In Britain only 40% of couples admit to celebrating Valentine's. Of those that buy presents, the average amount spent by men is £42 and £26 by women, typically including gifts like flowers and chocolates. However, startling figures show that couples are 2.5 times more likely to break up in February1, so it seems that it could be worth your while making the extra effort when it comes to presents this Valentine's.

Lenstore's research on the topic has led to some innovative and witty ideas on how to avoid bad gifts this Valentine's. This comedy cartoon graphic offers an original, light-hearted alternative to trawling through the Internet search results of "Valentine's Gift Ideas":

Think about what theywantnot what theyneed.

This is the most dangerous trap to fall into, and it often leads to women receiving presents that are really for the house, and men receiving socks (again). Lenstore's graphic urges you to resist dressing up these gifts with elaborate or misleading clues that will almost certainly lead to an even greater plummet from expectations than simply receiving an iron.

If you don't think it sounds right... it's probably not!

The excitement that couples once felt at receiving a surprise gift from their partner often fizzles out over time and is replaced by "gift requests". Lenstore encourages you to ensure that there isn't any confusion over what you have requested. What could be more disappointing than receiving a bag of mulberries when you wanted a Mulberry bag?

1 Morse and Neuberg (2004) investigated how Valentine's affects couples' relationships. They observed participants at four different times throughout the year, and concluded that couples were 2.55 times more likely to break up during February.

About Lenstore

Lenstore is an online retailer of contact lenses in the UK. It was founded by Mitesh Patel in 2008 to provide consumers with a combination of low prices and a convenient service.

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